[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18609-18610]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  KEEPING PACE WITH MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to tell all of my 
colleagues about a brave 6\1/2\ year-old girl named Keeley Woodruff 
from Beaumont, Texas. Yesterday, Keeley braved Vagus Nerve Stimulator 
implant surgery to stop the more than 50 epileptic seizures that she 
has suffered daily since she was 1\1/2\ years old. Well, this 
stimulator has proved to be a safe and

[[Page 18610]]

effective therapy for patients with severe epilepsy, but it has not 
been approved by the State of Texas for patients under 12 years old.
  The bottom line is that costs associated with this life-changing 
procedure often are not covered.
  Mr. Speaker, thanks to the fast action and cooperation among a 
University of Texas medical branch physician; the manufacturer, 
Cyberonics; and Medicaid this procedure was allowed for Keeley. And 
thankfully her parents, Rob and Christi, informed me that she has only 
suffered two seizures since the surgery.
  While Keeley's story has a happy ending, there are many other 
children who face the same situation, and very soon I will be in 
contact with Texas and Medicaid officials to see what can be done to 
approve this device for all children under 12 years old.
  Mr. Speaker, we as Members of Congress must do all we can to make 
sure that medical policy keeps pace with medical technology.

                          ____________________